starlight | forever young

The Bascule Chamber

If the ice hadn't been so cold against his back, Regulus might never have wanted to get up from where they'd fallen on the ice. Maryrose's body against his had his heart thundering in his chest and he could hardly breathe. He stared up at her as she stared down, and her face was such the pretty picture of laughter that he could have stared at it for all his life. Not for the first time, he desperately wished that he had a camera, like the one Sirius had, so he could capture Maryrose and her expression.

But then again, he reckoned that no camera could truly capture Maryrose. No photo would ever do her justice. Everything about her was perfect - the shine of her eyes, the curve of her mouth into that pretty smile, right down to the shade of pink that the cold had turned the very tip of her nose and her high cheek bones.

He leaned up as best he could from the ice and kissed her again and she smiled, her hair a curtain of privacy around their faces as she leaned down and kissed him back.

When she pulled away, she also pulled him up so he was sitting. Both sitting on the ice, but their legs bent 'round each other so that they looked quite funny. His legs bent at his knees 'round her and hers bent up and over his, their torsos close to touching. His mouth tweaked into a grin as he thought to himself how positively lucky he was to be there as the snow fell from the sky like tiny flecks of confetti made from fragments of starlight.

"Do you like ice skating?" Maryrose asked him.

"As long as it's with you, I would do it everyday," he answered. "Though that says more for the company than the activity, I must admit." He reckoned he'd be rather sore from it the next day - but was also certain that whatever pain the falling would inflict on him would be utterly and wholly worth this moment.

Maryrose smiled, then said, "Okay, well. We did something I wanted to do -" her nose was pink from the cold now, though her ears seemed a bit less so after Regulus's administrations, "- so it's time that we do something you like doing."

"Like what?"

"You tell me," Maryrose answered.

"Oh, well, I dunno what I like doing," Regulus said meekly.

"Sure you do!"

"I like being with you," he said.

"Well you're already with me," she laughed, "So you have to think of something else."

Regulus bit his lips and silence dragged on long enough that Maryrose finally continued, "Alright, then show me what's one place in London that you really consider special." He stared at her, blank, and she laughed, "C'mon Reg, you must have a favorite place here! You live in London, yeah?"

Regulus hesitated, "My family's house is in London, yes." He paused, then, "But we're not going there."

"I didn't expect we would," Maryrose replied, "I'm interested in seeing a place you like."

Regulus thought for a moment. 

"In all of London," prodded Maryrose, "There must be some place."

Regulus stared into her eyes. "There's... a place, but it's a little odd and -- well, it's not that exciting, really... and... I'm not sure I can really explain why I like it so much."

"Show it to me."

"Alright." He paused, eyes searching hers, then called out, "Kreacher?"

The house elf appeared, the cracking sound of the disapparation muffled by the falling snow.

"Master again needs Kreacher?" the elf asked, bowing low, and sneaking a peek at Maryrose, who smiled at him and waved a tiny little greeting.

"Yes, Kreacher," Regulus said, "I need you to take us to the bascule chamber."